Cincinnati Reds employ the opener strategy for the first time in the David Bell era

LOS ANGELES – For the first time in David Bell’s four seasons as manager, the Cincinnati Reds are using an opener as a pitching strategy.

Luis Cessa will start Thursday’s series opener against the Los Angeles Dodgers with previously scheduled starter Reiver Sanmartin expected to follow Cessa out of the bullpen at some point. Cessa, who made 19 starts with the New York Yankees, hasn’t thrown more than 35 pitches in an outing since the start of spring training, so he's limited to a maximum of three innings.

"We’ll have a pretty rested bullpen behind Cessa," Bell said. "He was the right guy to do it. He’s pitched in a lot of different situations and roles. There was no hesitation there."

The Reds didn't finalize their decision to use an opener until after Wednesday's loss to the Cleveland Guardians. Bell said he wouldn't have held Cessa from pitching if there was a situation to use him in the 7-3 loss.

Bell always maintained an open mind toward openers since it became more popular around the league in 2019. The Tampa Bay Rays are the team most associated with the strategy. Reds pitching coach Derek Johnson employed it during the 2018 playoffs with lefty Wade Miley facing only one batter in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series against the Dodgers.

"We’ve talked about it a lot, but we never did it," Bell said. "We had guys in the past that only started and had a long track record of success as starters. There were a few times we got close to doing it, but such a strength of our team too, we just never really messed with it. With some of the guys we have now, having done multiple roles, it’s just easier this time."

The three-batter minimum rule means the right-handed Cessa will face the top of the Dodgers lineup, which was Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and Trea Turner in their first five games. Using Cessa won’t give the Reds a platoon advantage, but the strategy means Sanmartin, a soft-tossing lefty, won’t have to face the top of the lineup as often.

Sanmartin, 25, has made only three Major League starts, but he’s been tougher against left-handed hitters throughout his minor-league career. In two MLB starts against the Pirates and one against Atlanta, lefties are batting .182 against Sanmartin while righties have a .375 batting average against him.

"To be able to get Cess, who has been pitching really well, maybe up to one time around the order, pick the right spot to bring in – if it is Reiver, we can find the right spot of their lineup to bring him in and then let him pitch," Bell said. "Let him go as deep as he can. We have a pretty rested bullpen, a lot of right-handed relievers behind Reiver."

The Reds will be without Cessa in the back of their bullpen for at least one game, but they have Tony Santillan, Art Warren, Hunter Strickland and Justin Wilson to cover the late innings.

The Reds will be without Cessa in the back of their bullpen for at least one game, but they have Tony Santillan, Art Warren, Hunter Strickland and Justin Wilson to cover the late innings.